MANHATTAN — A massive predawn gang raid at three housing projects in East Harlem Tuesday morning netted 32 people on gun charges and selling heroin, crack and oxycodone, federal prosecutors said.
NYPD officers joined their counterparts in the FBI and descended on the George Washington and East River Houses along with the Metro North Plaza about 5 a.m., NYPD and federal officials said.
The arrests between Monday night and Tuesday morning join a handful more named in the two indictments against the rival gangs that sold heroin, crack, oxycodone and marijuana from the housing projects, officials said.
They also sold near schools and hospitals while using guns and violence to protect their criminal enterprises, officials said.
"This investigation started way back in May and, with the assassination of detective Holder back in October, the case picked up speed," stated Chief of Department James O'Neill during a press conference held today in front of East River Houses
Detective Randolph Holder was shot and killed while pursuing a suspect in East Harlem in 2015.
According to O'Neill, some of the individuals arrested today were also involved in Holder's murder.
"I'm glad [about the arrests] because there's been a lot of deaths in this area," said Carmen Rodriguez, 62, who lives in the area.
Earlier this year, Antonio Reyes, who went by both Tone and Capo, planned with Jonathan "J.O." Angulo to shoot another person because they were trespassing on their territory.
"We seek to stem the flow of drugs and the cycle of violence plaguing the Washington Houses, East River Houses and Metro North Plaza," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.
"Residents of public housing — like all residents of New York City — deserve safe streets, free of drugs and violence."
The long list of suspects, whose ages range from 22 to 51, includes many with colorful nicknames like Fetty Baller, Beast, Fats, Holiday, Jazz and Relly Rell. Others opted for less flamboyant monikers like Bianca, Sammy and Kenny Gilmore.
They're charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of narcotics trafficking, officials said.
Police released footage taken from an infrared camera that was in a helicopter circling the raid.
#Breaking: More than 2 dozen arrests made this AM with @nypdNews in East Harlem earlier this morning to break up gang-related violence
— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) April 19, 2016
